Etsy Faves

banner design by kathleen losche

Blythe Dolls

April 2013

April 24, 2013

Here are a few things causing inspiration at Casapinka on this cloudy spring morn. Pretty crocheted frames from Ideas Magazine, an easy way to change a wall. Notice I didn't say "change up a wall." Why do people say that, anyway? Hmmmm, is someone a little bit grumpy?

Never mind, I probably just need some fresh greenery like this! Herb garden at your fingertips via Houzz.

And coffee - I definitely need a morning cup of coffee, right away. I really like this coffee pot print from Seven Star. Inspired by a Catherineholm dishes I'm assuming, the graphic pink and brown rendering of my favorite morning beverage is quite satisfying. Now, for the real thing...

April 18, 2013

It's back to the water for more knitting. This time it's a cardigan design in Madelinetosh Pashmina in Gilded. Not a color I even have in my wardrobe but was just so enticing on the shelf. Last night Junior and I had a slumber party since Husband was on call and his sister was at a sleepover. We ate waffle ice cream sandwiches for breakfast and stayed up until 1030 watching Kick Buttowski in bed. Such a fun time - especially since I know that pretty soon he won't want to be seen with me. The other day when I tried to kiss him goodbye at school he yelled, "Smell ya later!" and took off. The day after that he donned his best martian voice and said. "Goodby. Fellow. Penisan." Yep, apparently that's a planet now...

April 17, 2013

"I'll buy you a Meatball Marinara from Subway if you'll wear your raccoon sweater." I did; I stooped to bribing Junior to wear a hand knit item to the recent Rhody Yarn Crawl. We visited Eneri Knits in Charlestown, RI where they had alpacas to entertain the kids. Truth be told, it was the idea that alpaca poop was for sale that fascinated them the most. "You never know who might be there - someone famous." was my impetus for the bribe. I have no idea why I thought that but I did and there was! A famous writer from Knitscene magazine and she put us on her blog, Knitting New England. Go see what a well behaved family I have (careful attention to the middle member) standing in front of the alpaca butts. Feel free to leave a comment there and tell her how I've made all you beige and teal lovers see the pink tinted light. Photo above is of the spring break strawberry pancakes that we made the other day.

April 15, 2013

Today is the first official day of spring break. When we moved into Casapinka we discovered that we could walk to the bay through a neighbor's yard. It's strange because while we knew we were close to the water, we had no idea that there were accessible beaches; we moved here for the privacy and beauty of the area and found out after moving in that we could walk down to the water whenever we wanted! What a wonderland we have found on Naragansett Bay.

One of the wonderful characteristics of knitting is its portability so I put my knitting into a little bag, grabbed a lawn chair and chaperoned the treasure hunters for their adventure. It was a great day to spend an afternoon treasure hunting, tide-pooling and just being carefree kids with no school for the entire week. The beach has lots of beautiful sea glass, parts of storm-torn boats, arrowheads and various other valuables that wash up onto the beach.

Today was sunny but breezy so while I knitted (never miss an opportunity for a knitting photo) the kids tried to make a fire, above, using a couple of rocks and some grass. They took a break to enjoy sandwiches, pretzels and Dr. Pepper while I continued to work on a new knitting design with my Pagewood Farms sock yarn in Violet Fusion. I love the way it shimmers with its gorgeous variegations, just waiting to be turned into something wearable.

April 11, 2013

I've taken a few days' break away from Casapinka, as I ready my red hot coffee table for its introduction to the world and I ready myself for the flak that comes with anthropomorphizing an un-pink piece of furntire. It is cotillion season, you know, and one - even if one is a table - must be lacquered just so, with all the curves tucked in and modest. As an aside, this caught my eye the other day, pink and multicolored sequins, from Boden Mini. Again, why doesn't this come in my size? Why can't I make a coffee table pink with sequins?If I order it for Juniorette, whom it will fit, I won't be allowed ten feet from it (This morning: May I borrow your fisherman's sweater that your aunt in Ireland made you? DENIED.) so it's really just the stuff of blog dreams. My lacquered indigo living room coffee table,however, is in the process of becoing reality and shall be debuted, if suitable, next week.

April 03, 2013

I hung my pink yarn photograph in my kitchen because I just love it. In fact, I've put it up for sale and you can buy it here. I also placed one of my printed chairs in there since Husband doesn't like them that much in the living room. The walls are now slightly adorned as I have one accoutrement as opposed to none!

But you see, I have plans. I don't believe in rushing things, or so I tell myself when little is getting accomplished. Next up is to figure out those wooden cabinets. Let's revisit the before photo, just to see how far Casapinka has come in a year.

The walls were grayish beige before although not apparent in this photograph. They are now a bright, clean white. I feel that we have room for an island on casters, with a couple of stools, where people can sit and do homework while Husband and I cook (he's a great cook...a master at curries, in particular.) Husband thinks we don't, although it's natural for him to disagree at any suggestion I make. Any thoughts?

April 01, 2013

I'm so excited about the arrival of Spring! I feel absolutely energized after Easter. I want to knit, sew, make some more patterns to sell and decorate all at once!

I have pretty mirrors on my radar at the moment, in particular, those for the bathroom. I also have aqua bathrooms on the brain. Such a great color for a spa-like retreat (like mine where everyone uses it despite 2 other bathrooms...think Sponge Bob toothpaste, toilet seat left open, bunny rabbit towels on the floor.) A woman can dream, though....

No wonder I'm dreaming of spa bathrooms: A lot of energy this morning was spent trying to convince Junior that he had to leave his light-up mohawk headband in the car this morning. He wore it all the way to school and tried to wear it into Kindergarten but I staged an intervention. He wouldn't take it off! Do you know how ridiculous, "Take off your mohawk NOW." sounds? He won it in yesterday's Easter egg hunt here at Casapinka. It was even worn to Easter dinner. "It's innapropriate" - Husband. "Pick your battles plus it's funny." - Me

So, there Junior sat eating his mashed potatoes with an earnest look on his face, while his mohawk lit up in red, blue, yellow and orange. I can't imagine a God who doesn't appreciate a six year old folding his hands together and saying an Easter prayer with a light up mohawk on his head. His sister, on the other hand, just rolled her eyes, looked at me and with a world-weary sigh and said, "He's SO immature." Hey, he did eat his green beans and salad. Photo credits: Houzz, Desire to Inspire, House Beautiful, and Houzz.